Police probing three versions of murderous car blast

The case can be requalified as a terror act.

Facebook

Twitter

Photo: Max Trebukhov

Ukrainian law enforcers are checking three versions of the murder of a Georgian citizen, ethnic Chechen Ali Timayev, known also as Timur Makhauri, in central Kyiv on 8 September, the Interior Ministry's spokesman, Artem Shevchenko, has told 112 Ukrayina TV.

"Version 1. This could be connected to the Russian security forces or even Kadyrov's special services which are quite independent and rather powerful due to their separate financing. They could have done it,” Shevchenko said.

“Version 2 - this could be the result of some score settling among criminals because Makhauri was hardly an example of a law-abiding citizen, he was repeatedly detained abroad and once in Ukraine, this winter," he said.

"Version 3 - this could be some personal issues, revenge or something else," he added.

According to Shevchenko, the case is being treated as premeditated murder committed in a way that was dangerous to the public. However, considering there are two victims – a woman and a boy – gives grounds to qualify it as a terror act.

A car was blown up by an IED in Kyiv on Friday, 8 September, killing Georgian citizen Timur Makhauri and severely injuring a woman who was a passenger in the car. The third passenger, a child, was lightly injured.

LB.ua must be linked directly in case of full or partial reproduction of materials. No materials containing links to the Ukrainian News agency or the Ukrainian Photo Group may be re-printed, copied, reproduced or used in any other way